Electronic mail system, electronic mail server, and communication terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an electronic mail system, which comprises: a transmitting communication terminal for transmitting an electronic mail to which an address is added; an electronic mail server for storing an electronic mail transmitted from the transmitting communication terminal; and a receiving communication terminal for receiving an electronic mail having an address thereof from the electronic mail server, wherein the electronic mail server comprises: managing means for managing an address and call number of the receiving communication terminal; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal; storing means for storing the electronic mail received by the receiving means; retrieving means for retrieving a call number of the receiving communication terminal managed by the managing means corresponding to an address added to the electronic mail received by the receiving means; and distributing means for transmitting the electronic mail received by the receiving means to the receiving communication terminal having the call number retrieved by the retrieving means, and wherein the receiving means comprises: receiving means for receiving the electronic mail distributed by the distributing means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. 1. Field of the Invention

2. The present invention relates to an electronic mail system, anelectronic mail server, and a communication terminal.

3. 2. Description of the Prior Art

4. In a conventional electronic mail system, an electronic mail istransmitted from a transmitting communication terminal and thetransmitted electronic mail is stored in an electronic mail server. Areceiving communication terminal accesses the electronic mail server soas to retrieve the electronic mail addressed to the receivingcommunication terminal from the electronic mail server.

5. The electronic mail server registers and manages address informationof the receiving communication terminals. The transmitting communicationterminal adds the address information to an electronic mail andtransmits the addressed electronic mail to the electronic mail server.The electronic mail server stores the received electronic mail in a mailbox corresponding to the address information added to the electronicmail.

6. The receiving communication terminal asks the electronic main serverfor an electronic mail addressed to the receiving communicationterminal. When the electronic mail server has stored an electronic mailaddressed to the receiving communication terminal, the receivingcommunication terminal sends an electronic mail retrieval request to theelectronic mail server and receives the electronic main therefrom.

7. In such an electronic mail system, when the electronic mail serverhas received an electronic mail addressed to a receiving communicationterminal, the receiving communication terminal cannot be informed of theelectronic mail stored in the mail box of the electronic mail server.Thus, the receiving communication terminal cannot receive an urgentelectronic mail.

8. In order to solve such a problem, when the electronic mail server hasreceived an electronic mail addressed to a receiving communicationterminal or pager registered in the electronic mail server, it informsthe registered receiving communication terminal or pager of thereception of the electronic mail. Thus, the user of the registeredreceiving communication terminal or pager can know that the electronicmail server has received the electronic mail addressed to the user. Thiselectronic mail system has been proposed in, for example, JPA-5-110596and JPA-2-21969.

9. However, the conventional electronic mail system having such areception informing function only informs the reception-side-user of thefact that the electronic mail server has received an electronic mailaddressed to the user. Thus, the reception-side-user needs to transmitan electronic mail retrieval request to the electronic mail server andreceive the electronic mail therefrom. Consequently, in the conventionalelectronic mail system, the reception-side-user needs to performcomplicated operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

10. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic mail system, an electronic mail server, and a communicationterminal that enables a receiving communication terminal toautomatically receive an electronic mail addressed thereto in real time.

11. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic mail system, which comprises: a transmittingcommunication terminal for transmitting an electronic mail to which anaddress is added; an electronic mail server for storing a electronicmail transmitted from the transmitting communication terminal; and areceiving communication terminal for receiving a electronic mail havingan address thereof from the electronic mail server, wherein theelectronic mail server comprises: managing means for managing an addressand call number of the receiving communication terminal; receiving meansfor receiving an electronic mail from the transmitting communicationterminal; storing means for storing the electronic mail received by thereceiving means; retrieving means for retrieving a call number of thereceiving communication terminal managed by the managing meanscorresponding to an address added to the electronic mail received by thereceiving means; and distributing means for transmitting the electronicmail received by the receiving means to the receiving communicationterminal having the call number retrieved by the retrieving means, andwherein the receiving means comprises: receiving means for receiving theelectronic mail distributed by the distributing means.

12. In such an electronic mail system, when the electronic mail serverhas received an electronic mail from a transmitting communicationterminal, the electronic mail server retrieves a call number such as atelephone number registered corresponding to address added to theelectronic mail and automatically distributes the received electronicmail to the receiving communication terminal having the call number. Thereceiving communication terminal receives the electronic mail from theelectronic mail server. Thus, the receiving communication terminal canautomatically receive the electronic mail from the transmittingcommunication terminal.

13. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic mail server, which comprises: managing means formanaging an address and call number of a receiving communicationterminal; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from atransmitting communication terminal; storing means for storing theelectronic mail received by the receiving means; retrieving means forretrieving a call number of the receiving communication terminal managedby the managing means corresponding to an address added to theelectronic mail received by the receiving means; and distributing meansfor transmitting the electronic mail received by the receiving means tothe receiving communication terminal having the call number retrieved bythe retrieving means.

14. When such an electronic mail server has received an electronic mailfrom a transmitting communication terminal, the electronic mail serverretrieves a call number registered corresponding to address added to theelectronic mail and automatically distributes the received electronicmail to a receiving communication terminal having the call number. Thus,the receiving communication terminal can automatically receive theelectronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal.

15. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communication terminal whose address and call number aremanaged by an electronic mail server having distributing means, whichterminal comprises: electronic mail creating means for creating anelectronic mail; electronic mail storing means for storing theelectronic mail; electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting theelectronic mail to the electronic mail server; receiving means forreceiving an electronic mail from the electronic mail server and storingthe electronic mail to the electronic mail storing means; and electronicmail displaying means for displaying the electronic mail.

16. In case that such a communication terminal transmits an electronicmail, an electronic mail creating means creates the electronic mail,adds address information to the created electronic mail, and transmitsthe resultant electronic mail to an electronic mail server having anautomatic distributing means. When the communication terminal receivesan electronic mail from the electronic mail server having the automaticdistributing function, the communication terminal automatically receivesthe electronic mail, stores the electronic mail in an electronic mailstoring means, displays the electronic mail on an electronic maildisplaying means, and informs the user of the reception of theelectronic mail. Thus, the receiving communication terminal canautomatically receive an electronic mail from the transmittingcommunication terminal and inform the reception-side-user of thereception of the electronic mail.

17. These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of the best mode of embodiments thereof, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

18.FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of anelectronic mail system according to the present invention;

19.FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of anelectronic mail server in the electronic mail system shown in FIG. 1;

20.FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of aportable information terminal in the electronic mail system shown inFIG. 1;

21.FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a transmission/receptionsequence of an electronic mail transmitted/received between eachcommunication terminal and the electronic mail server in the electronicmail system shown in FIG. 1;

22.FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the electronic mailserver in the electronic mail system shown in FIG. 1;

23.FIG. 6A is a flow chart showing the operation of a transmittingcommunication terminal in the electronic mail system shown in FIG. 1;and

24.FIG. 6B is a flow chart showing the operation of a receivingcommunication terminal in the electronic mail system shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

25. Next, an electronic mail system, an electronic mail server, and acommunication terminal according to embodiments of the present inventionwill be explained.

26. In FIG. 1, the electronic mail system comprises electronic mailserver 100, portable information terminals (mobile communicationterminals) 400 and 500, and communication terminal 700. Electronic mailserver 100 has an automatic distributing function. Portable informationterminals 400 and 500 are connected to electronic mail server 100through public telephone network 200 and mobile communication network300. Communication terminal 700 is connected to electronic mail server100 through Internet network 600.

27.FIG. 1 also shows major functions of electronic mail server 100. Asshown in FIG. 1, the electronic mail server 100 comprises storingportion 110, address information/telephone number managing portion 120,retrieving portion 130, and automatic distributing portion 140.

28. Storing portion 110 stores an electronic mail received from atransmitting communication terminal. Storing portion 110 has mail boxescorresponding to addresses (address information) of electronic mails.

29. Address information/telephone number managing portion 120 storesaddress information of destinations of electronic mails and telephonenumbers of receiving communication terminals registered corresponding tothe destinations, connectedly.

30. Retrieving portion 130 retrieves the telephone number correspondingto address information of an electronic mail received from atransmitting communication terminal from management information ofaddress information/telephone number managing portion 120.

31. Automatic distributing portion 140 calls a receiving communicationterminal with a telephone number retrieved by retrieving portion 130 soas to transmit the received electronic mail to the receivingcommunication terminal.

32. In such a structure, electronic mail server 100 retrieves atelephone number of a registered receiving communication terminalcorresponding to address information added to an electronic mailreceived from transmitting communication terminal 700 and automaticallydistributes the electronic mail to receiving communication terminal 400or 500 with the telephone number.

33. Such a service that electronic mail server 100 provides can be usedby terminals such as a conventional wired communication terminal (notshown) connected to public telephone network 200, portable informationterminals 400 and 500 connected to mobile communication network 300,communication terminal 700 connected to Internet network 600, and soforth.

34. When electronic mail server 100 receives an electronic mailaddressed to a receiving communication terminal whose telephone numberhas not been registered, electronic mail server 100 does notautomatically distribute the received electronic mail to the receivingcommunication terminal. In this case, electronic mail server 100 storesthe received electronic mail in the mail box in storing portion 110.When electronic mail server 100 receives an electronic mail retrievalrequest from the receiving communication terminal, electronic mailserver 100 transmits the electronic mail stored in the main box to thereceiving communication terminal.

35. Thus, when a receiving-side-user of an electronic mail does not wantto use the automatic distribution service of electronic mail server 100,the user does not register his or her telephone number with addressinformation/telephone number managing portion 120. In this case, theuser can use electronic mail server 100 as a conventional electronicmail server.

36. Although an telephone number is used as a call number fortransmitting an electronic mail to a communication terminal in thisexample, any of other various access numbers may be used as a callnumber.

37. Referring to FIG. 2, electronic mail server 100 has communicationmanaging server 100, reception informing server 100B, and an RAS (RemoteAccess Service) Server 100C.

38. Communication managing server 100A includes storing portion 110explained above. When electronic mail server 100 receives an electronicmail from a transmitting communication terminal, communication managingserver 100A performs a receiving process for the electronic mail andstores the received electronic mail in storing portion 110.

39. Reception informing server 100B includes addressinformation/telephone number managing portion 120, the retrievingportion 130, and automatic distributing portion 140, which wereexplained above. Reception informing server 100B extracts addressinformation from the received electronic mail, retrieves a telephonenumber from address information/telephone number managing portion 120,and automatically distributes the electronic mail to a receivingcommunication terminal having the retrieved telephone number.

40. RAS server 100C controls a network function such as dial-upconnection.

41. Communication managing server 100A, reception informing server 100B,and RAS server 100C are mutually connected by a LAN (Local Area Network)so as to communicate with one another.

42. RAS server 100C is connected to external interface 160. RAS server100C is connected to public telephone network 200 through externalinterface 160. External interface 160 is also connected to portable unit170 such as a radio adaptor or a radio communication unit. RAS server100C is connected to mobile communication network 300 through portableunit 170.

43. In such a structure, RAS server 100C is connected to variouscommunication terminals through communication networks 200, 300, and 600so as to transmit/receive electronic mails to/from various communicationterminals.

44. Referring to FIG. 3, portable information terminal 400 compriseselectronic mail creating portion 410, displaying portion 420, portabletelephone portion or radio transmitting/receiving portion 430, batteryportion 440, controlling portion 450, and transmitting/receiving antenna460.

45. Electronic mail creating portion 410 includes a data input operatingportion and a data storing portion. The user creates an electronic mailby using the data input operating portion. The data storing portionstores the created electronic mail.

46. Displaying portion 420 includes a displaying panel such as an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display). The displaying panel displays an electronicmail that is being or has been created by using the electronic mailcreating portion and an electronic mail that has been received. Inaddition, displaying portion 420 displays various data other thanelectronic mails.

47. Portable telephone portion 430 transmits/receives radio data throughtransmitting/receiving antenna 460. Battery portion 440 supplies powerto each portion of portable communication terminal 400. Controllingportion 450 controls each portion of portable communication terminal400.

48. The wired communication terminal used in the present invention hasthe above-explained electronic mail creating portion and electronic maildisplaying portion.

49. Next, the controlling operation of the electronic mail system willbe explained along with the automatic distributing function of theelectronic mail server.

50.FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a transmission/receptionsequence of an electronic mail transmitted/received between eachcommunication terminal and electronic mail server 100 in the system.

51. In FIG. 4, portable information terminal 400 shown in FIG. 1 is atransmitting communication terminal and that portable informationterminal 500 is a receiving communication terminal. FIG. 4 shows theoperations of servers 100A, 100B, and 100C of electronic server 100 foran electronic mail transmitted from portable information terminal 400.

52.FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of electronic mailserver 100. FIG. 6A is a flow chart showing the operation oftransmitting communication terminal 400. FIG. 6B is a flow chart showingthe operation of receiving communication terminal 500.

53. The transmitting communication terminal i.e. portable informationterminal 400 calls electronic mail server 100 at step S401, confirmswhether the line is connected at step S402, and transmits an electronicmail created by using electronic mail creating portion 410 to electronicmail server 100 at step S403.

54. When the electronic mail is transmitted, transmitting communicationterminal 400 adds a destination address to the electronic mail. Forexample, transmitting communication terminal 400 adds addressinformation “aaa@bbb.or.jp” to the electronic mail. Electronic mailserver 100 uses account “aaa” for retrieving a telephone numbercorresponding to the address information.

55. Thereafter, transmitting communication terminal 400 confirms whetherthe electronic mail has been normally transmitted to electronic mailserver 100 and completes the process at step S404. When the line can notbe connected at step S402 or when a transmission error has taken placeat step S404, the transmitting communication terminal completes theprocess as an error termination. Then, transmitting communicationterminal 400 performs, for example, a re-transmitting process.

56. When electronic mail server 100 has received the electronic mail atstep S101, electronic mail server 100 transfers the electronic mail tocommunication managing server 100A through the external interface 160and the RAS server 100C. The communication managing server 100A performsa predetermined receiving process at step S102 and stores the electronicmail and the address thereof in storing portion 110 at step S103.

57. Next, retrieving portion 130 extracts the account “aaa” from theaddress information of the electronic mail, and confirms whether or notaccount “aaa” has been registered in address information/telephonenumber managing portion 120 at step S104.

58. Address information/telephone number managing portion 120 hasregistered a telephone number of a receiving communication terminalcorresponding to the address information. For example, if addressinformation/telephone number managing portion 120 has registeredtelephone number “010-12-34567” corresponding to account “aaa”, then thedata registration format becomes “aaa 010-12-34567”.

59. Retrieving portion 130 retrieves the telephone number “010-12-34567”corresponding to account “aaa” from address information/telephone numbermanaging portion 120 at step S105.

60. Retrieving portion 130 transfers retrieved telephone number“010-12-34567” to automatic distributing portion 140. Automaticdistributing portion 140 causes RAS server 100C to call portableinformation terminal 500 having telephone number “010-12-34567” at stepS106. After the line has been connected at step S107, automaticdistributing portion 140 transmits the electronic mail stored in storingportion 110 to portable information terminal 500 at step S108.

61. Thereafter, electronic mail server 100 confirms whether theelectronic mail has been normally transmitted to portable informationterminal 500 to complete the process at step S109. When the line can notbe connected at step S107 or when a transmission error has taken placeat step S109, electronic mail server 100 completes the process as anerror termination and then performs, for example, a re-transmittingprocess.

62. At step S105, when retrieving portion 130 has not retrieved thetelephone number, electronic mail server 100 completes the process. Inthis case, electronic mail server 100 transmits the electronic mailafter receiving an electronic mail retrieval request from the receivingcommunication terminal.

63. When the electronic mail is transmitted from communication terminal700 to portable information terminal 500 via Internet network 600 andLAN 150, the similar operation is performed. However, when an electronicmail is transmitted/received between PC (Personal Computer) clients inInternet network 600, unless address information/telephone numbermanaging portion 120 has registered their telephone numbers, electronicmail server 100 does not perform the automatic distributing function.

64. When electronic mail server 100 starts to automatically distributean electronic mail to portable information terminal 500, portableinformation terminal 500 detects a call received from a line at stepS501, performs a predetermined receiving process, and receives theelectronic mail at step S502.

65. When portable information terminal has normally received theelectronic mail at step S503, the storing portion of electronic mailcreating portion 410 stores the electronic mail at step S504. Then,displaying portion 420 displays the electronic mail at step S505 andcompletes the receiving process.

66. A message that represents the reception of an electronic mail may bedisplayed on displaying portion 420 instead of the electronic mailitself.

67. When portable information terminal 500 has not normally received anelectronic mail at step S503, displaying portion 420 displays an errormessage at step S506 and completes the receiving process.

68. In the above-explained example, electronic mail server 100determines whether or not to automatically distribute an electronic maildependently on whether a telephone number corresponding to addressinformation of the electronic mail has been registered. However, whenthe telephone number has been registered, the user can select anautomatic distribution mode for causing an electronic mail to beautomatically distributed, or a reception informing mode for informingthe user of the reception of an electronic mail.

69. In this case, address information/telephone number managing portion120 registers an identifier for identifying the automatic distributionmode or reception informing mode along with address information andtelephone number. When the identifier represents the automaticdistribution mode, the electronic mail server transmits a receivedelectronic mail to a receiving communication terminal having a telephonenumber corresponding to address information added to the electronicmail. When the identifier represents the reception informing mode, theelectronic mail server informs the user of the receiving communicationterminal of the reception of the electronic mail.

70. As explained above, in the electronic mail system according to thepresent invention, when an electronic mail server has received anelectronic mail from a transmitting communication terminal, theelectronic mail server retrieves a call number such as a telephonenumber registered corresponding to address information added to theelectronic mail and automatically distributes the received electronicmail to the receiving communication terminal having the call number,whereby the receiving communication terminal receives the electronicmail from the electronic mail server.

71. Thus, the receiving communication terminal can automatically receivethe electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal. Theuser of the receiving communication terminal need not to spontaneouslyretrieve an electronic mail from the electronic mail server.Consequently, a very convenient electronic mail system can be provided.

72. When the electronic mail server according to the present inventionhas received an electronic mail from a transmitting communicationterminal, the electronic mail server retrieves a call number registeredcorresponding to address information added to the electronic mail andautomatically distributes the received electronic mail to a receivingcommunication terminal having the call number.

73. Thus, the receiving communication terminal can automatically receivethe electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal. Theuser of the receiving communication terminal need not to spontaneouslyretrieve an electronic mail from the electronic mail server.Consequently, a very convenient electronic mail server can be provided.

74. In case that the communication terminal according to the presentinvention transmits an electronic mail, the communication terminal addsaddress information to an electronic mail created by using theelectronic mail creating means, and then transmits the resultantelectronic mail to an electronic mail server. When the communicationterminal according to the present invention receives an electronic mailfrom the electronic mail server, the communication terminalautomatically receives the electronic mail, stores the electronic mailin the electronic mail storing means, displays the electronic mail onthe electronic mail displaying means, and informs the user of thereception of the electronic mail.

75. Thus, the communication terminal can automatically receive anelectronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal and informthe user of the reception of the electronic mail. The user of thecommunication terminal need not to spontaneously retrieve an electronicmail from the electronic mail server. Consequently, a very convenientcommunication terminal can be provided.

76. Although the present invention has been shown and explained withrespect to the best mode of embodiment thereof, it should be understoodby those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various otherchanges, omissions, and additions in the form and detail thereof may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic mail system, which comprises: atransmitting communication terminal for transmitting an electronic mailto which an address is added; an electronic mail server for storing aelectronic mail transmitted from said transmitting communicationterminal; and a receiving communication terminal for receiving anelectronic mail having an address thereof from said electronic mailserver, wherein said electronic mail server comprises: managing meansfor managing an address and call number of said receiving communicationterminal; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from saidtransmitting communication terminal; storing means for storing theelectronic mail received by said receiving means; retrieving means forretrieving a call number of said receiving communication terminalmanaged by said managing means corresponding to an address added to theelectronic mail received by said receiving means; and distributing meansfor transmitting the electronic mail received by said receiving means tosaid receiving communication terminal having the call number retrievedby said retrieving means, and wherein said receiving means comprises:receiving means for receiving the electronic mail distributed by saiddistributing means.
 2. The electronic mail system as set forth in claim1 , wherein at least one of said receiving communication terminal andsaid transmitting communication terminal is a mobile communicationterminal connected to a mobile communication network.
 3. The electronicmail system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of saidreceiving communication terminal and said transmitting communicationterminal is a wired communication terminal connected to a wiredcommunication network.
 4. An electronic mail server, which comprises:managing means for managing an address and call number of a receivingcommunication terminal; receiving means for receiving an electronic mailfrom a transmitting communication terminal; storing means for storingthe electronic mail received by said receiving means; retrieving meansfor retrieving a call number of said receiving communication terminalmanaged by said managing means corresponding to an address added to theelectronic mail received by said receiving means; and distributing meansfor transmitting the electronic mail received by said receiving means tosaid receiving communication terminal having the call number retrievedby said retrieving means.
 5. The electronic mail server as set forth inclaim 4 , which further comprises: a communication management serverhaving said receiving means and said storing means; reception informingserver having said managing means, said retrieving means, and saiddistributing means; a line interface connected to a communicationnetwork; and a connection controlling server for controlling theconnection of the transmitting communication terminal and the receivingcommunication terminal through said line interface.
 6. The electronicmail server as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said communicationmanaging server, said reception informing server, and said connectioncontrolling server are connected to one another by a local area network.7. The electronic mail server as set forth in claim 4 , wherein saidline interface is connected to a wired communication network through awired line and to a radio communication unit through a wired line, andwherein said radio communication unit is connected to a mobilecommunication network through a radio line.
 8. A communication terminalwhose address and call number are managed by an electronic mail serverhaving distributing means, which terminal comprises: electronic mailcreating means for creating an electronic mail; electronic mail storingmeans for storing said electronic mail; electronic mail transmittingmeans for transmitting the electronic mail to the electronic mailserver; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from saidelectronic mail server and storing the electronic mail to saidelectronic mail storing means; and electronic mail displaying means fordisplaying the electronic mail.
 9. The communication terminal as setforth in claim 8 , which further comprises: a radio controlling portionfor transmitting and receiving data through a radio line; and a batteryportion for supplying power to the communication terminal, thereby usedas a portable communication terminal.
 10. The communication terminal asset forth in claim 8 , which further comprises means for adding anaddress corresponding to a receiving terminal to the electronic mailtransmitted to said mail server.
 11. The communication terminal as setforth in claim 10 , which further comprises: a radio controlling portionfor transmitting and receiving data through a radio line; and a batteryportion for supplying power to the communication terminal, thereby usedas a portable communication terminal.